The symbolism of Silent Sam, the Civil War memorial statue on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, has been a focus of ongoing discussions at our School. These discussions have explored our commitments to social justice and to upholding the dignity of all people, core values reflected in the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
As an outgrowth of these discussions, a group of social work faculty, staff and students developed a statement expressing their shared beliefs about Silent Sam. More than 200 individuals (including graduates in addition to faculty, staff and students) signed this statement during fall semester 2017. This collaborative statement has been published online, and you may view it here: http://ssw.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/509/pdf/Statement-on-Silent-Sam.pdf
